Posts Tagged ‘vegan’

found this on Ellen Degenere’s page:
There are a lot of great reasons to stop eating animal products. Here are a few of the most common.

Do It for the Planet

Animal farming is the number one cause of climate change in the world. In fact, it has a 40% larger carbon footprint than all transportation around the globe combined. That means that every car, truck, bus, train and plane on our planet combined is almost half as bad for our planet as modern animal farming.

Animal farming is a huge drain on resources like water and grain. It takes 2,500 gallons of water to produce a pound of meat, compared to only 25 gallons to produce a pound of grain. 70% of the grain grown in the US is used for producing meat. If that grain were being fed directly to people, no one would have to go hungry.

Currently, a third of the land on our planet is used to raise farm animals. One large factory farm can create as much waste as the entire city of Los Angeles.Do It for the Animals

99% of all land animals used for meat, milk or eggs is factory farmed. Around 450 billion animals are factory farmed on our planet every year. The standards for ethical treatment in these facilities continue to decline.

Dairy cows are considered the most cruelly treated animals in factory farms. They are kept constantly pregnant, and their calves, considered byproducts, are put to death almost instantly.

Chickens are now specifically bred for either eating or laying eggs. Male “egg-laying” chicks, unable to fulfill their purpose, are all killed right away, often very inhumanely.

The over-fishing of our oceans has led to a dangerously dramatic decline in wildlife. For every ten tuna, sharks, and other large predatory fish that were in our oceans fifty to a hundred years ago, only one is left.

Many species are on the verge of extinction for being “accidentally” killed in modern fishing practices. In Indonesia, for every one pound of shrimp, 26 pounds of other sea animals were killed and tossed back into the ocean.

Do It for Yourself

Scientific studies supported by the American Dietetic Association have confirmed that vegan and vegetarian diets are associated with lower cholesterol, lower risk of heart disease, lower blood pressure, lower risk of hypertension and Type 2 diabetes, lower body fat, and lower overall cancer rates. In fact, studies have shown that a vegan diet can actually reverse diabetes, heart disease and even cancer. For more info, check out “Forks Over Knives.”

Vegetarian and vegan diets tend to be lower in saturated fat and cholesterol, have higher levels of dietary fiber, magnesium and potassium, vitamins C and E, and folate.

The health benefits of a vegetarian and vegan lifestyle are vast. The American Dietetic Association (or ADA) released a report which stated that vegetarians and vegans “meet and exceed requirements” for protein consumption. In fact, vegetarians and vegans usually have better protein consumption than people who eat meat, dairy and eggs.

Sir Paul McCartney, founding member of The Beatles and Wings, has written a letter to India’s Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, requesting January 12th be declared an official meat-free day. The purpose of such a day is to celebrate compassion towards animals, and commemorate the founding of India’s branch of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

In the letter he wrote, “Would you please think about declaring one day every year — perhaps 12 January, the anniversary of PETA India’s founding — a day to celebrate vegetarianism and compassion towards animals? Such a declaration would save countless animals, reduce the environmental devastation caused by the meat industry and help participants clear their arteries and their consciences. It would be a celebration of life — all life.” (Source: Scotsman.com) A 2006 survey found about 31 percent of Indians are vegetarian. Less than three percent of Americans are.

McCartney has been working with PETA for over 20 years to bring attention to the abuse of animals that takes place routinely around the world. In an interview he said, “I would say quite conclusively that the facts are in favor of vegetarianism. We always say, for cruelty to animals, vegetarianism is the great thing to get rid of that. For the planet, to prevent depleting the water and the land and everything, it’s a great idea. And I think it’s a great thing for your health, and doctors nowadays agree with that. There are plenty of great books and organizations, so no matter where you are, there is someone to help you.” (Source: PETA.org)

It has been reported that he and his wife Linda became vegetarians after seeing lambs on their own farm while eating lamb for dinner. Linda McCartney later started her own vegetarian food company, which is still making packaged vegetarian meals today. In November, Linda McCartney Foods started a competition for the public to submit recipes for the best-tasting vegetarian meal. Each week, 10 favorite dishes are chosen. (Check out the archives for some delicious inspiration.) The winning dish, which will be chosen in April, will be sold as part of the Linda McCartney line. The McCartney family remains involved in Linda’s food company.